Pneumatically operated valve means and parts therefor or the like

ABSTRACT

A pneumatically operated valve means having a housing means provided with two separate inlets and one outlet, the housing means having two spaced-apart and axially aligned valve seats respectively leading from the inlets to the outlet. A valve member is carried by the housing means and is disposed between the valve seats to respectively open and close the same in an alternate manner as the valve member is axially moved between its operating positions by pneumatically operated actuator means carried by the housing means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Ned C. Myers 2,892,608 6/1959 Collins137/6255 X E1khart,lnd. 3,122,065 2/1964 Laun ..l 137/6255 X [21] Appl.No. 831,044 3,188,048 6/1965 Sutherland 137/6255 X [22] Filed June6,1969 3,329,165 7/1967 Lang 137/6255 [45] Patented July 20, 19713,509,954 5/1970 Sramcik 251/636 X [73] Assignee Robershaw ControlsCompany FOREIGN PATENTS 483,764 22/1953 ltaly 137/6255 1,064,000 8/1959Germany 137/6255 Primary Examiner--M. Cary Nelson 54 PNEUMATICALLYOPERATED VALVE MEANS Aswan! Emminer-MihaeI Sturm AND PARTS THEREFOR ORTHE LIKE ArromeysAuzville Jackson, J r., Robert L. Marben and Claims, 7Drawing Figs. Candor, Candor & Tassone [52] US. Cl 137/625.4,

137/625-5 ABSTRACT: A pneumatically operated valve means having a [51Int. Cl Fl6k 11/04 h i ea rovid d with two separate inlets and one out-0! let the housing means having two gpaced-apan and 625-4 aligned valveseats respectively leading from the inlets to the 5 6 R f ed outlet. Avalve member is carried by the housing means and is l 1 e disposedbetween the valve seats to respectively open and UNITED STATES PATENTSclose the same in an alternate manner as the valve member is 828,0868/1906 Bowers 137/6254 axially moved between its operating positions bypneumati- 2,353,765 7/ 1944 Mathisen 137/6255 X cally operated actuatormeans carried by the housing means.

23 22 ll 48 50 l4 73 74' S IE5 .84 83 PATENIED JuLzolsn 3, E93; M5

SHEET 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR. NED C. MYERS Hi3 ATTORNEYS PNEUMATICALLYOPERATED VALVE MEANS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE This inventionrelates to an improved pneumatically operated valve means as well as toimprove parts for such a pneumatically operated valve means or the like.

It is well known that pneumatically operated valve means have beenprovided in the past wherein a valve member is normally maintained inone position relative to a valve seat means when no pneumatic signal isbeing directed to such device, the valve member moving to anotheroperating position when a pneumatic signal isbeing directed to suchdevice.

One of the features of a copending patent application Ser. No. 831,043,filed June 6, I969, filed concurrently herewith is to improve upon suchstructure by making the various parts from one piece molded plasticmembers that can be readily assembled together in an easy and effectivemanner.

However, one of the features of this invention is to provide improvedvalve seat means for such pneumatically operated valve means asdisclosed and claimed in the aforementioned copending patent applicationso as to permit the same to control two inlets in connection with oneoutlet by utilizing a unique valve seat fitting of thisinvention.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides a housing meanshaving two separate inlets and one outlet, the housing means having twospaced apart and axially aligned valve seats respectively leading fromthe inlets to the outlet. An axially movable valve member is carried bythe housing means and is disposed between the valve seats torespectively open and close the same in an alternate manner in responseto the operating condition of a pneumatically operated actuator meanscarried by the housing means and being operatively associated with thevalve member. to cause axial movement thereof between its operatingpositions.

Accordingly, it is an. objectof this invention to provide improvedpneumatically operated device having one or more of the novel featuresset fort above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such apneumatically operated device or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the improved pneumatically operateddevice of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the device of FIG. I

with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the cam locking meansof this invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the pneumaticallyoperated device in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the valve seat means of this invention.

bodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merelyutilized to illustrate one of the wide-variety of uses of thisinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the improved pneumatically operated valvemeans of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeralland comprises two cup-shaped housing members 11 and 12 detachablysecured together inthe manner hereinafter described, valve seat means orfittings I3 and 13' being detachably secured to the housing member 12.

A flexible diaphragm I4 is carried by the housing members 11 and 12 in amanner hereinafter described to cooperate with the housing member II todefine a chamber 15 therebetween, the flexible diaphragm I4 cooperatingwith a valve stem 16 having a valve head 17 on the lower end thereofthat is adapted to open and close a valve seat 18 provided in the valveseat fitting 13 and separating an inlet passage means 19 from an Outletpassage means 20. I A compression spring 21 normally tends to maintainthe flexible diaphragm H4 in the deactuatedposition of FIG. 3 whereinthe valve head l7 is disposed in its open position so that fluid flow ispermitted between the inlet means 19 and the outlet means 20. However,when a pressure fluid source (not shown) is directed to an opening means22 formed in the cupshaped housing member 11 in a manner hereinafterdescribed to pressurize the chamber 15 of the device 110, the flexibleopposition to the force of the compression spring 211 to seat the valvehead 17 against the valve seat 18 and thereby prevent fluidcommunication between the inlet means 19 and the outlet means 20.However, such downward movement of the valve head 17 opens valve seat18' of the valve seat means or fitting l3 to interconnect the inlet 19'to the outlet 20.

.The cup-shaped housing members llll and I2 can each be formed as amolded one piece plastic structure in the configuration illustrated inthe drawings whereby the cup-shaped housing members II and 12respectively have closed ends 23 and 24 and open ends 25 and 26.

The open end 25 of the cup-shaped housing member 111 is defined by anannular flat surface 27 having an annular groove 28 provided therein. Anannular depending flange 29 is integrally formed at the open end 25 ofthe cup-shaped housing member 11 outboard of the flat surface 27 thereofand carries a plurality of inwardly directed wedge-shaped cam members30'which have their lower surfaces 311 coplanar with the lower end 32 ofthe annular flange 29 and their upper surfaces 33 angularly disposedrelatively to the horizontal as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The annular flange 29 of cup-shaped housing member 11 is reinforced by aplurality of spaced and integral rib means 34 as illustrated in FIGS.I3. However, in order to insure flexibility of the annular flange 29adjacent each cam or wedge member 30 thereof, opening means or slots 35are formed through the cup-shaped housing member 111 in a manner tointerrupt the flat surface 27 thereof above each cam member 30 asillustrated in FIG. 3 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The open end 26 of the other cup-shaped housing member 12 is alsoprovided with a flat annular surface 36 and a plurality of spacedoutwardly directed cam locking means or wedge members 37 each having anupper surface 38 disposed coplanar with the flat end surface 36 and witha lower annular surface 39 that cooperates with the angular surface 33of a cam member 30 on the housing member ill in a manner now to bedescribed.

The spacing between each pair of wedge members 37 on the housing member12 is of a dimension to respectively permit a wedge member 30 of thehousing member 11 to be inserted therethrough when aligned therewith.Likewise, the spacing between adjacent wedge members 30 of the housingmember 11 is such that a wedge member 37 of the housing member 12 can beinserted therethrough when aligned therewith.

In this manner, when it is desired to assemble the cupshaped housingmembers II and 12 together, the assembler places the open end 25 and 26of the housing members 11 and l2together and rotates one of the housingmembers II. and 12 relative to the other whereby the cam members 37 ofthe housing member [2 become aligned with the spacings between the cammembers 30 of the housing member 11 so that they can be insertedtherethrough in telescopic relation and subsequently be moved relativethereto whereby the cooperating slanting surfaces 33 and 39 wedgedtogether as illustrated in FIG. 2 to firmly compress the flat endsurfaces 27 and 36 of the housing members 11 and 12 together in a simpleand effective manner.

The flexible diaphragm 14 has an outer peripheral means 40 defined by anannular bead 41 which is adapted to be received in the annular groove 28in the flat end surface 27 of the housing member 11, the flat endsurface 27 being relieved between the annular groove 28 and the interiorperipheral surface 42 thereof to accommodate the thickness of theflexible diaphragm l4 inboard of the annular bead 41 thereof so tat thecompressed relation between the open ends 25 and 26 of the housingmembers 11 and 12 through the cam locking means 30 and 37 thereof willnot cause a cutting into or adverse effect on the flexible diaphragm l4inboard of the annular bead 41 thereof.

In this manner, it can be seen that when the outer peripheral means 40of the flexible diaphragm 14 is disposed between the open ends 25 and 26of the housing members 11 and 12 when the same are being assembledtogether in the manner set forth above, the resulting compressedrelation between the flat end surfaces 27 and 36 of the housing members11 and 12 likewise compresses the outer peripheral means 40 of theflexible diaphragm14 therebetween to insure a positive sealingrelationship therebetween whereby the flexible diaphragm 14 is securedto the housing members 11 and 12 and effectively seals the pneumaticsignal receiving chamber between the flexible diaphragm 14 and thehousing member 11 from a chamber43 defined between the flexiblediaphragm 14 and the end wall 24 of the cup-shaped housing member 12.However, the chamber 43 is adapted to be interconnected to theatmosphere in any suitable manner, such as by an opening means (notshown) passing through the frustoconical sidewall means 44 of thehousing member 12 so as to prevent a dash pot effect of the chamber 43in retarding movement of the flexible diaphragm 14 between its operatingpositions of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The end wall 23 of the housing member 11 is provided with a threadedbore 45 passing centrally therethrough and receives an externallythreaded member 46 having the opening 22 passing therethrough, the lowerend 47 of the member 46 having spaced abutment means 48 extendingtherefrom to space the diaphragm 14 from the passage means 22 andthereby eliminate upward movement of the diaphragm 14 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 3 for a purpose hereinafter described. a

A cup-shaped rigid diaphragm backing member 4 is adapted to have itsclosed end wall 50 abut against the under side 51 of the flexiblediaphragm 14 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 and carries a smallcup-shaped member 52 having an opening 53 passing therethrough andtelescopically receiving a reduced end portion 54 of the valve stem 16therethrough whereby the end 55 of the valve stem 16 abuts against thecupshaped backing member 49 and the cup-shaped retainer 52 bears againsta shoulder means 56 of the valve stem 16. The shoulder means 56 of thevalve stem 16 defines one end of an externally threaded portion 57 ofthe valve stem 16. A nut 58 is threaded on the threaded portion 57 ofthe valve stem 16 and has a beveled surface 59 adapted to be engaged bya spring-retaining washerlike member 60 which is forced thereagainst bythe compression spring 21 having one end 61 thereof bearing against theretainer 60 and the other end 62 thereof bearing against the closed endwall 24 of the housing member 12.

In this manner, the compression spring 21 normally tends to move thevalve stem 16 and, thus, the valve head 17 upwardly to maintain thevalve seat 18 in its open condition and the valve seat 18 in its closedcondition, and, thus, through the interconnection of the valve stem 16to the flexible diaphragm 14 by the cup-shaped members 49 and 52, tendsto maintain the flexible diaphragm 14 in its uppermost position asillustrated in FIG. 3.

The closed end wall 24 of the cup-shaped housing member 12 has a steppedbore 63 passing therethrough to telescopically receive a cylindricalportion 64 of the valve stem 16 and permit axial movement thereofrelative to the housing member 12 between its valve opening and closingpositions. However, in order to seal the chamber 43 of the device 10from the valve seat fitting 13, one or more U-shaped flexible annularsealing members 65 are disposed in the larger portion in the steppedbore 63 as illustrated in FIG. 3 and are held in compressed relationtherein by an externally threaded member 66 having its threaded portion67 threaded into an in ternally threaded portion 68 of the stepped .bore63 as illustrated in FIG. 3 whereby the head 69 of the threaded member66 abuts against an end 70 ofa tubular extension 71 integrally formed onthe closed end wall 24 of the housing member 12. The threaded member 66has a bore means 72 passing therethrough to telescopically receive thecylindrical portion 64 of the valve stem 16 to permit axial movementthereof rela tive thereto.

The valve stem 16 and valve head 17 can be formed from a one piecemolded plastic structure with the valve head 17 having a substantiallyfrustoconically shaped ends 73 and 73 adapted to be fully andrespectively received through the valve seats 18 and 18' in the mannerillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to center the valve head 17 relativethereto, an annular disclike portion 74 with opposed beveled surfacesbeing formed on the valve head 17 intermediate the portions 73 and 73 torespectively seat against the beveled valve seats 18' and 18 in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to completely close the valve seats18 and 18.

The closed end wall 24 of the housing member 12 is provided with atubular extension 78 projecting downwardly therefrom and beinginternally threaded at 79 to threadedly receive a threaded portion 95 ofthe valve seat means 13 so that the valve seat means 13 and 13 can bereadily attached to the housing member 12.

In particular, the valve seat means 13 can comprise a one piece moldedplastic structure formed in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3wherein a tubular extension 81 is concentrically disposed about thevalve seat 18 and projects upwardly therefrom to carry a threadedportion for threading into a tubular extension 91 of the valve seatmeans 13'. In addition, the inlet passage means 19 and outlet passagemeans 20 are defined by outwardly directed tubular extensions 82 and 83which are externally threaded respectively at 84 and 85 so as to besuitably coupled to an inlet conduit means and to an outlet conduitmeans by conventional threaded coupling members or the like.

In order to reinforce the outer rim portions 86 and 87 of the tubularextensions 82 and 83, cylindrical metal inserts 88 can be respectivelydisposed in the passage means 19 and 20 as illustrated. For example, thecylindrical metal inserts 88 can be molded in place when the valve seatmeans 13 is molded, if desired, or such metallic inserts 88 can beinserted after the valve seat means 13 has been molded.

The valve seat means or fitting 13' is also adapted to be molded as aone piece plastic structure in the same manner as the valve seat fitting13.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the valve seat fitting 13' has the valve seatmeans 18 thereof defined at the end of a tubular extension 90, which, inturn, is surrounded by another tubular extension 91 concentricallyspaced therefrom and being internally threaded at 92 to be threaded tothe externally threaded portion of the tubular extension 81 of the valveseat fitting 13 whereby the tubular extension 81 of the valve seatfitting 13 is telescopically received between the tubular extensions and91 of the valve seat fitting 13 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The inlet 19' of the valve seat fitting 13' is defined by an externallythreaded tubular extension 93 formed in a manner similar to the tubularextension 82 of the valve seat fitting 13 and is reinforced by thepreviously described cylindrical metal insert 88 for the reasonspreviously described.

Another tubular extension 94 extends upwardly from the valve seatfitting 113' and is externally threaded at 95 to be threaded to thethreaded portion 79 of the tubular extension 79 of the housing means 12so as to fasten the combined valve seat fittings 13' and 13 to thehousing means l2.

An interior wall 96 of the valve seat fitting 13 is provided with a bore97 passing therethrough to receive the cylindrical portion 64 of thevalve stem 16 so as to permit axial movement therebetween.

Thus, by utilizing the valve seat fitting 13 of this invention incombination with the valve seat fitting 13 in the manner illustrated inFIG. 3, the pneumatically operated device is adapted to switch theoutlet 20 to either the inlet means 19 or the inlet means 19' dependingupon the presence or absence of pneumatic pressure fluid in the chamberof the device 10 in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the various parts of the pneumaticallyoperated device 10 of this invention can be fabricated in a simple andeconomical manner by simple plastic molding operations and can beassembled together in a simple and effective manner as previouslydescribed to provide the pneumatically operated valve means whichoperates in the manner previously described.

Thus, not only does this invention provide an improved pneumaticallyoperated device, but also this invention provides improved parts forsuch a pneumatically operated device or the like.

What I claim is:

l. A pneumatically operated valve means comprising hous cally operatedactuator means carried by said housing means and being operativelyassociated with said valve member to cause movement thereof between itsoperating positions, said housing means comprising two housing membersdetachably secured together and respectively carrying said valve seats,one of said housing members having a tubular extension projectingtherefrom and coaxial with said valve seat of said one housing member,the other housing member having a tubular extension projecting therefromand being coaxial with its said valve seat, said tubular extensionsbeing detachably secured together, said other housing member havinganother tubular extension concentrically disposed within the first-namedtubular extension thereof, said other tubular extension of said otherhousing member defining said valve seat of said other housing member atthe free end thereof, said tubular extension of said one housing memberbeing; telescoped and wedged between said tubular extensions of saidother housing member when said one housing member is secured to saidother housing member.

2. A pneumatically operated valve means as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid valve member has a valve stem extending through one of said valveseats to be operatively associated with said actuator means at the endthereof.

3. A pneumatically operated valve: means as set forth in claim llwherein said valve member has opposed frustoconical portions forrespectively seating against said valve seats in an alternating mannerto close the same.

4. A pneumatically operated valve means as set forth in claim 3 whereinsaid valve seats respectively have frustoconiing means having twoseparate inlets and one outlet, said hous cal surfaces against whichsaid frustoconlcal portions of said ing means having two spaced apartand axially aligned valve seats respectively leading from said inlets tosaid outlet, an axially movable valve member carried by said housingmeans and being disposed between said valve seats to respectively openand close the same in an alternate manner, and a pneumativalve memberseat.

5. A pneumatically operated valve means as set forth in claim 1 whereineach housing member comprises a one piece molded plastic structure.

1. A pneumatically operated valve means comprising housing means havingtwo separate inlets and one outlet, said housing means having two spacedapart and axially aligned valve seats respectively leading from saidinlets to said outlet, an axially movable valve member carried by saidhousing means and being disposed between said valve seats torespectively open and close the same in an alternate manner, and apneumatically operated actuator means carried by said housing means andbeing operatively associated with said valve member to cause movementthereof between its operating positions, said housing means comprisingtwo housing members detachably secured together and respectivelycarrying said valve seats, one of said housing members having a tubularextension projecting therefrom and coaxial with said valve seat of saidone housing member, the other housing member having a tubular extensionprojecting therefrom and being coaxial with itS said valve seat, saidtubular extensions being detachably secured together, said other housingmember having another tubular extension concentrically disposed withinthe first-named tubular extension thereof, said other tubular extensionof said other housing member defining said valve seat of said otherhousing member at the free end thereof, said tubular extension of saidone housing member being telescoped and wedged between said tubularextensions of said other housing member when said one housing member issecured to said other housing member.
 2. A pneumatically operated valvemeans as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member has a valve stemextending through one of said valve seats to be operatively associatedwith said actuator means at the end thereof.
 3. A pneumatically operatedvalve means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member hasopposed frustoconical portions for respectively seating against saidvalve seats in an alternating manner to close the same.
 4. Apneumatically operated valve means as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidvalve seats respectively have frustoconical surfaces against which saidfrustoconical portions of said valve member seat.
 5. A pneumaticallyoperated valve means as set forth in claim 1 wherein each housing membercomprises a one piece molded plastic structure.